Are landlords allowed to require a minimum credit score in accordance with Fair Housing Law?

Yes, landlords in Washington State are allowed to require a minimum credit score for prospective tenants in accordance with Fair Housing Law. It is important that landlords establish criteria for tenant selection that apply to all applicants in a consistent, non-discriminatory manner. When requiring minimum credit scores, it is important to remember that Fair Housing Law prohibits discrimination on the basis of any of the seven protected classes, as listed in the Washington State Law Against Discrimination. A credit score cannot be used as a way to discriminate a protected class. When establishing a minimum credit score, the landlord must ensure that the credit score is actually related to the risk of default. For the credit score to be a valid factor, the score must be above a certain threshold that has been established by the property manager. In addition, the landlord must provide an explanation of the credit score requirement upon request. This should allow prospective tenants to understand the criteria that was used to arrive at the minimum credit score. Finally, landlords should ensure that the credit score threshold is being applied consistently to all applicants regardless of their racial, ethnic, or other protected characteristics. By adhering to these guidelines, landlords can ensure that selection criteria are consistently applied in accordance with Fair Housing Law.

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Are landlords allowed to require a minimum credit score in accordance with Fair Housing Law?

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